Lewis Howard Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to George and Rebecca Latimer, who had escaped slavery in Virginia. His early life was marked by the challenges faced by free Black individuals in pre-Civil War America, yet his parents instilled in him a strong sense of self-worth and the importance of education.

At the young age of 16, Latimer enlisted in the Union Navy during the final year of the Civil War, serving as a landsman on the USS Massasoit. His service reflected a commitment to the cause of freedom and equality, aligning with his family's history and his own desire to contribute to a more just society.